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The Batmobile is a showstopper

The Batmobile is the big hit at the Canadian International Autoshow at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. (Todd Korol / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

By Perry LefkoSpecial to the Star

Sat., Feb. 20, 2016

There’s something about seeing the iconic Batmobile that draws a crowd.

In advance of the premiere next month of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, one of the two Batmobiles that was used in the film made a pit stop at the Canadian International Auto Show on Thursday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

It will be on display through to the end of the show on Sunday and can be seen on the 200 Level of the North building off of the Front St. entrance.

For those interested in the specs of the Batmobile, it weighs 2,500 kilograms, has a length of 4.75 metres, a width of 2.85 metres and a height of 1.63 metres.

“It’s a great honour for us,” said Auto Show general manager Jason Campbell. “It has created a stir, even with all these show veterans, when it arrived Wednesday night. You could tell by the grins on everybody’s faces, it’s going to be a showstopper — a major hit of our show. We’ve had a partnership with Warner Bros. for a number of years, and when they came to us with the idea of doing this car at the show, we were obviously very excited. We knew the enthusiasm that would be here for it.

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“The biggest challenge was where could we put it in the building, because the car was in New York (for some promotions), and we couldn’t get it until Wednesday night, midway through the show. It physically can’t fit on one of the floors of the main area of the show where we’d normally put it because it would crush about a dozen displays along the way. We managed to work very closely with the Convention Centre to find a home for it, and it’s nestled in the main entrance, which works out great.

“The people can come, see the car, whether they are coming to the show or not. It’s going to create a big buzz in the city. It’s accessible for all. It’s great, and we’re very happy to have it.”

When asked who he thinks would win in this epic battle of two superheroes, Campbell answered diplomatically: “If you’ve seen Batman’s car, you’ve got to vote for Batman.”

Among the many people who viewed the epic automobile was Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Vince Hawkes. And as anyone who has ever followed the history of Batman, his alter ego, millionaire Bruce Wayne, had a special relationship with Gotham City Commissioner James Gordon.

“We’re looking at purchasing one of these, so as part of my legacy, it will be Commissioner Hawkes instead of Commissioner Gordon,” he said with a laugh.

Hawkes, who toured the impressive OPP exhibit on display in the 800 Level of the South Building before visiting the Batmobile exhibit, was taken aback by the magnitude of Batman’s super turbocharged car.

“It’s remarkable, the design, the size, the weight, it really is quite a neat vehicle,” he said. “It’s great to see things like this that draw people in, which in essence will allow people to go by our booth to see the vehicles we have and the modern technology we have in order to enhance the public safety part.”

Asked to pick between The Caped Crusader, who blasted out of stately Wayne Manor with the Batmobile, and the Man of Steel, who is faster than a speeding bullet and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, Commissioner Hawkes said: “Definitely Batman. With car talent like this, we’ve got to go with Batman. Batman has better tools. In policing, you look for the tools that can get the job done, and Batman can do it, I think.”

In a straw poll of some people who visited the display, there was a divide between the Batman and Superman enthusiasts.

Srinivas Ketharaju, a 37-year-old American visitor, had mixed feelings: “I think Superman will win, but I like Batman better, because he’s human. Superman is not human. He’s superhuman.”

Srinivas’s 36-year-old wife, Shilpa, said she also liked Batman more than Superman.

“Batman shows what human beings can do if they want to fight injustice,” she said. “Superman has an advantage. He came from a different planet. We could be Batman if we had the money. We can’t be Superman.”

Roger Jackson, a 55-year-old from Sudbury, Ont., said in a “hypothetical, smackdown, punch-type” battle, Superman would easily beat Batman.

“He’s an alien, he has superpowers,” Jackson said. “Batman is just a regular multimillionaire playboy and business executive with super powers, but he’s still made of flesh and blood. Superman is made of alien crystals powered by the sun.”

Freelance writer Perry Lefko contributes to Toronto Star Wheels. To reach him, email wheels@thestar.ca and put his name in the subject line.

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